Method and apparatus for controlling the temperature of a vehicular seat

ABSTRACT

An assembly  10  for controlling the temperature of vehicle seats  16, 18 . Particularly, the assembly  10  includes a controller  24  which selectively provides electrical power to heating assemblies  40, 42 ; and  44, 46  and cooling assemblies  48, 50 ; and  52, 54  in order to heat or cool the seats  16, 18  in a desired manner while concomitantly obviating the need for high current switches within and/or upon the seats  16, 18 . The assembly  10  includes a control panel  28  which allows the temperature of the seats  16, 18  to be automatically or manually controlled in a desired manner.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to a method and an apparatus forcontrolling the temperature of a vehicular seat and more particularly,to a centralized temperature controller which is remotely deployed fromthe vehicle seat and which may be used to remotely control thetemperature of the seat by selectively sourcing or causing electricalpower to be provided to the temperature control assemblies which aredeployed upon and/or within the vehicle seat.

(2) Background of the Invention

Typically, the temperature of a vehicular seat is controlled by the useof at least one selectively energizable heater or heating assembly andat least one selectively energizable cooling assembly. Particularly,each of these assemblies are deployed upon and/or within the seat andare each respectively coupled to a relatively high current switch (e.g.,a switch which is adapted to operatively receive in excess of abouttwenty amperes of electrical current). More particularly, each of theswitches are deployed upon the seat and are coupled to a source ofelectrical current (e.g., the vehicular battery) and to a controllerwhich receives instructions from a user of the vehicle that a certainamount of hot or cold energy is to be generated and communicated to theseat. The controller, upon receipt of the instruction, generates andcommunicates a signal to at least one of the switches, effective tocause electrical current to flow through the at least one selectedswitch and energize the temperature control assembly which is coupled tothat switch.

While the foregoing configuration does allow the temperature of thevehicular seat to be selectively controlled, it suffers from somedrawbacks. For example and without limitation, the placement of theswitches upon the bottom surface of the seat undesirably increases thelikelihood of damage to the switches caused by materials which aretypically placed under the seat, and further increases the difficulty inremoving and/or servicing the switches (i.e., the entire seat typicallymust be removed in order to allow the switches to be removed orserviced). Moreover, placement of the switches upon an exposed surfaceof the seat, in order to reduce the cost and complexity of removing andservicing the switches, is aesthetically undesirable and furtherincreases the likelihood of damage to the switches. Further, the use ofseparate switches (e.g., one for each temperature control assembly)further undesirably increases overall production and maintenance costs,and the placement of the switches within the vehicular seat, to reducethe likelihood of damage, further undesirably increases the cost andcomplexity of servicing and/or removing the switches. Moreover, thesehigh current type switches are relatively expensive.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is a first non-limiting advantage of the present invention to providea method and an apparatus for controlling the temperature of a vehicularseat which overcomes some or all of the previously delineated drawbacksof prior strategies.

It is a second non-limiting advantage of the present invention toprovide a method and an apparatus for controlling the temperature of avehicular seat which overcomes some or all of the previously delineateddrawbacks of prior strategies and which, by way of example and withoutlimitation, obviates the need for relatively high current switches whichare operatively deployed upon and/or within the vehicular seat.

According to a first non-limiting aspect of the present invention, anassembly is provided. Particularly, the assembly includes a selectivelyenergizable seat heater; a selectively energizable seat coolingapparatus; and a controller which selectively provides electrical powerto the heater and to the cooling apparatus, effective to selectivelyenergize the heater and the cooling apparatus, thereby controlling thetemperature of a seat.

According to a second non-limiting aspect of the present invention, avehicle is provided. Particularly, the vehicle includes at least oneseat; an instrument panel; a climate control assembly having a firstportion which is deployed within the instrument panel and which iscoupled to a source of electrical power; and a selectively activatablesecond portion which is deployed within the at least one seat and whichis coupled to the first portion, effective to allow electrical power tobe communicated from the first portion to the second portion and toallow the temperature of the at least one seat to be controlled by theselective activation of the second portion in response to a receipt ofelectrical power from the first portion.

According to a third non-limiting aspect of present invention, a methodis provided for controlling the temperature of a vehicular seat.Particularly, the method includes the steps of placing a heater upon theseat; placing a cooling assembly within the seat; providing acontroller; remotely locating the controller from the seat; coupling thecontroller to the heater and to the cooling assembly; and coupling thecontroller to a source of electrical power, thereby allowing the heaterand the cooling assembly to be selectively energized through thecontroller, effective to control the temperature of the seat.

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from a reading of the following detaileddescription of the preferred embodiment of the invention and byreference to the following drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a vehicular seat temperature controlapparatus which made in accordance with the teachings of the preferredembodiment of the invention and which is deployed within a conventionalvehicular passenger compartment.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the control panel which is shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a vehicular seat temperaturecontrol apparatus 10 which is made in accordance with the teachings ofthe preferred embodiment of the invention and which is deployed withinthe passenger compartment 12 of a vehicle 14.

Particularly, the vehicle 14 includes a pair of seats 16, 18, a sourceof electrical energy (e.g., a conventional vehicular battery) 21, and aninstrument panel 22. It should be appreciated that the present inventionis applicable to a wide variety of diverse vehicular configurations andthat nothing in this description should limit the present invention to aparticular type of vehicle.

Temperature control apparatus 10 includes a controller 24 which isoperable under stored program control and which is operatively deployedwithin, or “behind”, the instrument panel 22. Apparatus 10 also includesa control panel 28 which is disposed within the instrument panel 22.Controller 24 includes an input/output or I/O portion 30, which iscoupled to the battery 21 by the bus 23 and to the control panel portion28 by the bus 29. Further, the temperature control apparatus 10 includesheating assemblies 40, 42, 44, and 46 and cooling assemblies 48, 50, 52,and 54. As shown, heating assemblies 40 and 42 are respectively deployedupon or within the back portion 60 and the support portion 62 of theseat 16 while the cooling assemblies 48, 50 are similarly andrespectively deployed upon the back portion 60 and the support portion62 of the seat 16. Similarly, the heating assemblies 44, 46 arerespectively deployed upon or within the back portion 66 and the supportportion 68 of the seat 18 while the cooling assemblies 52, 54 areoperatively and respectively deployed upon or within the back portion 66and the support portion 68 of the seat 18. Each of the assemblies 40,42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, and 54 are coupled to the I/O portion 30 by bus70. It should be appreciated that while substantially all of thefollowing discussion only describes the temperature control of vehicularseat 16, it is equally applicable to the temperature control ofvehicular seat 18 and to any other vehicular seat (not shown) to whichapparatus 10 is similarly and operatively coupled. Moreover, it shouldbe appreciated that the present invention is not limited to the number,type, or arrangement of assemblies 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, and 54,which are shown in FIG. 1.

In operation, when it is desired to control the temperature of thevehicular seat 16, a signal is generated from the control panel 28,through bus 29, through the I/O portion 30, and then to the controller24 indicating the nature of the temperature adjustment(e.g., whether itis desired to heat or cool the vehicular seat 16 and the relative amountby which seat 16 is to be heated or cooled). The controller 24 thenselectively activates the assemblies 40, 42, 48, and 50 by sourcingpower directly to assemblies 40, 42, 48, and 50, to effectuate thedesired temperature. The control panel 28 is more fully described below.

Upon receipt of the signal from the control panel 28, the controller 30causes electrical power, received from the battery 21 through bus 23, tobe sourced or directly provided, through bus 70, to one or more of theassemblies 40, 42, 48, and 50 in order to effectuate the desiredtemperature adjustment. The foregoing operation obviates the need or therequirement for relatively high current switching assemblies as theelectrical power is directly provided or sourced to these temperaturecontrol assemblies 40, 42, 48, and 50 (and to assemblies 44, 46, 52, and54) from the battery or energy source 21 through the controller 24(e.g., through I/O portion 30). It should be appreciated that, in othernon-limiting embodiments, controller 24 may comprise one or moreoperatively linked controllers (e.g., one controller may receive thesignals emanating from portion 28 and order a second controller to causeelectrical power to be communicated to one or more assemblies 40-54through the input/output or other communications portion of this secondcontroller. The configuration and use of the control panel 28 isexplained in greater detail below.

As shown best in FIG. 2, control panel 28 comprises a substantiallyrectangular housing 100 which is disposed within or which is integrallyformed with the instrument panel 22. Particularly, the control panel 28includes a display portion 102 and several selectively depressibleswitches or touch sensitive or capacitive type portions or membranes104-130 which are electronically coupled to the controller 24 and whichcause certain desired events or operations to selectively occur in themanner which is more fully set forth below. That is, each switch ortouch sensitive membrane 104-130 respectively provides a signal to thecontroller 24 which causes the controller 24 to perform some actionaccording to the software or logic resident within the controller 24.

Switches 104, 116 each include, in the most preferred embodiment of theinvention, a substantially similar and respective blue seat ensignia150, 152 while switches 106, 118 each include, in the most preferredembodiment of the invention, a substantially similar and respective redseat ensignia 156, 154. Switches 120 and 124 each respectively includean upwardly extending red arrow 158, 160 and a downwardly extending bluearrow 162, 164. Switch 122 includes an upwardly extending black arrow168, a downwardly extending black arrow 166, and a conventional fansymbol 170. Switch 108 has a printed black Auto ensignia 172, switch 122has a black ensignia 176 which depicts several arrows and a seatedindividual, and switch 114 has a black ensignia 178 which is aconventional front window defrost symbol. Switch 110 has a blackensignia 174 which comprises the word “off”. Switch 130 has a blackensignia 180 which signifies a rear window defrosting operation, switch126 has an ensignia 184 which is designated AC and which signifies theactivation of an air conditioning operation, and switch 128 has a blackensignia 190 in the form of vehicle 14. Display portion 102 includes afirst portion 200 which is illuminated when the ambient temperature ofthe environment that the vehicle 14 is deployed within is acquired bycontroller 24 and appears upon the display portion 203, and a secondportion 202 which signifies whether the temperature is being displayedin units of Fahrenheit or Centigrade (e.g., when the portion 202 isilluminated, the temperature is displayed in units of Fahrenheit,although other illumination embodiments may be utilized).

In operation, a selective depression of switches 104, 116 respectivelycauses the cooling assemblies 48, 50; and 52, 54 to be activated and torespectively cool the seats 16, 18. Moreover, a selective depression ofswitches 106, 118 respectively causes the heating assemblies 40, 42; and44, 46 to be activated and to respectively heat the seats 16, 18. Theoperation of switches 104, 106 will be discussed in greater detail belowand it should be apparent that the operation of switch 118 issubstantially similar to that of switch 106 and that the operation ofswitch 116 is substantially similar to that of switch 104 with theexception that switches 116 and 118 respectively heat and cool the seat18 while switches 104, 106 respectively heat and cool the seat 16.

A first depression of the switch 104 causes the controller 24 to havethe cooling assemblies 48, 50 provide a first amount of cooling energyto the seat 16. A second depression of the switch 104 causes thecontroller 24 to have the cooling assemblies 48, 50 provide a second andgreater amount of cooling energy to the seat 16, while a thirddepression of the switch 104 causes the controller 24 to have thecooling assemblies 48, 50 provide a third and even greater amount ofcooling energy to the seat 16. In one non-limiting alternate embodiment,a first depression of the switch 104 causes the controller 24 to havethe cooling assemblies 48, 50 provide a first and greatest availableamount of cooling energy to the seat 16; a second depression of theswitch 104 causes the controller 24 to have the cooling assemblies 48,50 provide a second and lesser amount of cooling energy to the seat 16;and a third depression of the switch 104 causes the controller 24 tohave the cooling assemblies 48, 50 provide a third and even lower orminimally provided amount of cooling energy to the seat 16 (i.e., theselective and sequential depressions of the switch 104 cause a highest,middle, and then lowest amount of cooling energy to be applied to seat16). In one non-limiting embodiment, the amount of cooling energyprovided by the assemblies 48, 50 is dependent upon the amount of powerwhich is applied to the assemblies 48, 50 and/or to the duration orlength of time that this power is applied or communicated to theassemblies 48, 50 from the controller 24.

As shown best in FIG. 2, a luminescent portion 206, resides above theswitch 104, and provides three discrete luminescent portions. Eachdepression of the switch 104 causes a unique one of the luminescentportions to illuminate, thereby providing the user of the vehicle with apositive acknowledgment of the amount of cooling energy being providedto the seat 16 by the cooling assemblies 48, 50. That is, the number ofilluminated portions corresponds to the amount or level of coolingenergy which is being provided to seat 16 (e.g., when the maximum amountof cooling energy is provided, all of the illumination portions areactivated and when the minimum allowable amount of cooling energy isprovided, only a single portion is illuminated). A fourth depression ofthe switch 104 deactivates the cooling assemblies 48, 50 and causes allof the illumination, emanating from the portion 206, to be eliminated.The above-delineated cooling cycle may be repeated by subsequentdepressions of the switch 104.

A first depression of the switch 106 causes the controller 24 to havethe heating assemblies 40, 42 provide a first amount of heating energyto the seat 16. A second depression of the switch 106 causes thecontroller 24 to have the heating assemblies 40, 42 provide a second andgreater amount of heating energy to the seat 16, while a thirddepression of the switch 106 causes the controller 24 to have theheating assemblies 40, 42, provide a third and even greater amount ofheating energy to the seat 16. In an alternate embodiment, a firstdepression of switch 106 causes a maximum allowable amount of heat to beprovided to seat 16; a second depression of switch 106 causes a loweramount of such heat to be provided to seat 16; and a third depression ofswitch 106 causes the lowest amount of such heat to be provided to seat16. As shown best in FIG. 2, the luminescent portion 208, above theswitch 106, provides three discrete luminescent portions. Eachdepression of the switch 106 causes a unique one of the luminescentportions to illuminate, thereby providing the user of the vehicle with apositive acknowledgment of the amount of heating type energy beingprovided to the seat 16 by the heating assemblies 40, 42, in the samemanner as did the previously discussed portion 206. A fourth depressionof the switch 106 deactivates the heating assemblies 40, 42 and causesall of the illumination, emanating from the portion 208, to beeliminated. The above-delineated heating cycle may be repeated bysubsequent depressions of the switch 106. Further, as previouslyexplained with regards to assemblies 48, 50, the amount of heating typeenergy which is provided by the assemblies 40, 42 may be regulated byadjusting the amount of electrical power received by the assembliesand/or the duration or length of time that the assemblies 40, 42 receivesuch power. It should also be appreciated that assembly 40 may beindependently activatable from assembly 42 and that assembly 48 may beindependently activatable from assembly 50.

Switches 120 and 124 respectively allow a user to program a certaindesired temperature within the controller 24, and, more particularly,the controller 24, when in an automatic mode of operation, causes thetemperature of the passenger compartment 12 to be selectively fixed atthat particular pre-determined and/or pre-set temperature. Particularly,the controller 24, in an automatic mode, may utilize the assemblies40-54 as well as an air conditioner (not shown), or other available andconventional climate control type assemblies to achieve the desiredtarget temperature. Particularly, the depression of the lower portion ofeach respective switch 120, 124 (e.g., the respective portion upon whichthe ensignia 162, 164 is respectively overlaid) causes the programmedtemperature to decrease by an amount proportion to the number ofrespective depressions of the switches 120, 124, while the depression ofthe upper portion of each respective switch 120, 124 (e.g., therespective portion upon which the ensignia 158, 160 is respectivelyoverlaid) causes the programmed temperature to increase by an amountproportional to the number of respective depressions of the switches120, 124.

The depression of the switch 108, which includes the word AUTO″ 172,causes the controller 24 to cause the air conditioner and/or otherselected climate-control elements to selectively causes the temperatureof the passenger compartment 12 be subsequently equal to thepre-determined and pre-programmed temperature. Further, as shown,control panel 28 includes an illumination portion 210 which residesabove the switch 108 and which illuminates when the automatic mode ofoperation is occurring or is activated.

Concurrently depressing both of the switches 104, 106 will cause thecontroller 24 to activate the assemblies 40, 42, 48, and 50 in a certain“automatic” manner, effective to cause the seat 16 to have a certainpre-selected temperature which may be stored within the controller 24.Once the temperature has been achieved, in the seat 16, the controller24 deactivates the assemblies 40, 42, 48, and 50 until the controller 24senses (by use of temperature sensors (not shown)) that the temperatureof the seat 16 differs from the respectively programmed temperature by acertain respective amount (e.g., about five degrees Fahrenheit). Asubsequent depression of either switch 104 or 106 will deactivate the“automatic seat temperature” mode of operation.

A selective depression of the switch 110 disables the heater (not shown)and air conditioner (not shown). A second depression of the switch 110allows the heater and air conditioner to function. A selectivedepression of the switch 112 causes the controller 24 to open one ormore vents (not shown) which is effective to allow a user to control theair distribution within the passenger compartment 12 of vehicle 10. Asecond depression of the switch 112 disables this operation. Anillumination member 225, resides above switch 112 and becomesilluminated when the switch 112 is first depressed to allow airdistribution to occur.

A selective depression of switch 114 causes the controller 24 toactivate a front window defrost assembly (not shown), effective todefrost the front window of the vehicle 12 (i.e., the window in front ofthe seats 16, 18). A second depression of the switch 114 disables thisfront window defrost operation. An illumination member 227 resides abovethe switch 114 and becomes illuminated when the switch 114 is firstdepressed to allow defrosting to occur. A selective depression of switch130 causes the controller 24 to activate a rear window defrost assembly(not shown), effective to defrost the rear window of the vehicle 12(i.e., the window opposite of the front window). As shown, control panel28 includes an illumination portion 220 which is disposed above theswitch 130 and which illuminates when the rear window defrost operationis occurring. The rear window and the front window defrosting operationsmay terminate after the passage of a pre-determined period of time.

A selective depression of the switch 128 causes the controller 24 toselectively recirculate air within the passenger compartment 12. Asecond depression of the switch 112 disables this feature. Control panel28 further includes an illumination portion 228 which becomesilluminated when this switch 128 is energized or is operational.

A selective depression of the switch 126 causes the controller 28 toactivate an air conditioning assembly (not shown), effective to cool theinterior of the vehicle 12. A second depression of the switch 126disables this air conditioning operation. Control panel 28 furtherincludes an illumination portion 224 which resides above the switch 126and which becomes illuminated when the air conditioning operation isoccurring. Moreover, when the air conditioning operation occurs, adepression of the top portion of the switch 122 (e.g., the portionoverlaid by the ensignia 168) increases the amount of air which isprovided in direct proportion to the amount by which the portion isdepressed and a depression of the bottom portion of the switch 122(e.g., the portion overlaid by the ensignia 166) decreases the amount ofair which is provided in direct proportion to the amount by which theportion is depressed. The display portion 102 is further used, bycontroller 24, to display the function or operation which is currentlybeing achieved in addition to the programmed temperatures and theambient or external temperature.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exactconstruction or method which has been illustrated and discussed above,but that various changes and modifications may be made without departingfrom the spirit and the scope of the inventions as are more fullydelineated in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An assembly comprising; a source of electricalpower; a selectively energizable seat heater; a selectively energizableseat cooling apparatus; a controller having a communications portionwhich is coupled to said source of electrical power and to said heaterand cooling apparatus, wherein said controller selectively provideselectrical power to said heater and to said cooling apparatus, effectiveto selectively energize said heater and said cooling apparatus, therebycontrolling the temperature of a seat; and a control panel which iscoupled to said communications portion and which includes a firstportion which selectively causes electrical power to be provided to saidheater through said communications portion, wherein said first portionselectively causes a first preset amount of heating energy to beprovided to said seat, a second and greater preset amount of heatingenergy to be provided to said seat, and a third and even greater presetamount of heating energy to be provided to said seat.
 2. The assembly ofclaim 1 wherein said control panel further includes a second portionwhich selectively causes electrical power to be provided to said coolingapparatus through said communications portion.
 3. The assembly of claim2 wherein said first and second portions each comprise a selectivelydepressible switch.
 4. assembly of claim 2 wherein said first and secondportions each comprise a touch sensitive membrane.
 5. The assembly ofclaim 2, wherein said second portion causes a first and second amount ofcooling energy to be provided to said seat.
 6. The assembly of claim 4,wherein said controller contains a certain temperature. value andwherein said controller causes said seat to be heated until thetemperature of said seat is substantially equal to said temperaturevalue.
 7. A vehicle comprising at least one seat; an instrument panel; aclimate control assembly having a first portion which is deployed withinsaid instrument panel and which is coupled to a source of electricalpower; and a selectively activatable second portion which is deployedwithin said at least one seat and which is coupled to said firstportion, effective to allow electrical power to be communicated fromsaid first portion to said second portion and to allow the temperatureof said at least one seat to be controlled by the selective activationof said second portion in response to a receipt of electrical power fromsaid first portion, wherein said first portion selectively causes afirst preset amount of heating energy to be provided to said seat, asecond and greater preset amount of heating energy to be provided tosaid seat, and a third and even greater preset amount of heating energyto be provided to said seat.
 8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein saidfirst portion comprises a controller; and a control panel which iscoupled to said controller.
 9. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein saidsecond portion comprises a heater.
 10. The vehicle of claim 8, whereinsaid second portion comprises a cooling apparatus.
 11. The vehicle ofclaim 8, wherein said control panel further includes at least onedepressible member which selectively causes said controller to provideelectrical power to said second portion, said depressible member furthercausing said controller to provide a first amount of electrical power tosaid second portion in response to a first depression of saiddepressible member, causing said controller to provide a second andgreater amount of electrical power to said second portion in response toa second depression of said depressible member, and causing saidcontroller to provide a third and even greater amount of electricalpower to said second portion in response to a third depression of saiddepressible member.
 12. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein said controllerfurther contains a certain temperature value and wherein said controllerregulates said temperature of said at least one seat, effective to causethe temperature of said at least one seat to equal said certaintemperature value.
 13. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein said source ofelectrical power comprises a vehicular battery.
 14. A method forcontrolling the temperature of a vehicular seat, said method comprisingthe steps of: placing a heater upon said seat; placing a coolingassembly within said seat; providing a controller; remotely locatingsaid controller from said seat; coupling said controller to said heaterand to said cooling assembly; coupling said controller to a source ofelectrical power, thereby allowing said heater and said cooling assemblyto be selectively energized through said controller: and providing acontrol panel having at least one first selectively depressible memberwhich selectively causes a first preset amount of heating energy to beprovided to said seat upon a first depression of said selectivelydepressible member, a second and greater preset amount of heating energyto be provided to said seat upon a second depression of said selectivelydepressible member, and a third and even greater preset amount ofheating energy to be provided to said seat upon a third depression ofsaid selectively depressible member.
 15. The method of claim 14 furthercomprising the steps of: placing at least one second member upon saidcontrol panel; coupling said control panel to said controller; andcausing said temperature of said seat to be controlled by use of said atleast one second member.